Deanna James
The Painterly Tattooer
Deanna has been studying art for over twenty years and has been tattooing for ten. She is a graduate of Booker T. Washington’s Visual Arts program, and has been a winner on Ink Master: Angels, a top-5 finisher on Ink Master Season 10, a contestant on Ink Master Season 13, and in 2018 was named Best Tattoo Artist by Dallas Observer Magazine.
In 2022 Deanna was awarded best of show at both the Sinners Tattoo Expo and the Golden State Tattoo Expo, while competing against some of the most prestigious artists in the world. In 2023, she also won the award at the Empire State Tattoo Expo, becoming the first artist to win in Los Angeles and New York City back-to-back. She has been invited to work at tattoo conventions all over the world, including Taiwan and Italy.
Deanna is the leader and founder of the painterly tattoos movement and style. She has become famous for her work in the educational sphere of the tattoo industry, and has taught hundreds of artists about her techniques.
In 2021 Deanna opened her first studio of her own, Eden, as the next step in her tattoo career, intending to create a safe, educational, and uplifting environment for artists and apprentices. She is eager to pass along the knowledge she has gained over the past two decades as an artist.
Deanna’s favorite subject matters are baroque figures, micro paintings, designer style tattoos, lady faces, portraits, and flowers. Her technique and the dynamic and soft look she gets with her pieces are all trademarks of her work.
One of Deanna’s missions as an artist is to give back to the community. In the spirit of this, she does 3D nipple tattoos on those that have lost theirs from mastectomies or top surgery. She has also begun teaching seminars to teach other artists that want to also give out this service for free.
Deanna is proudly sponsored by Allegory Ink and Sin Skin aftercare.
To learn more about Deanna, you can listen/watch episodes of our podcast: